Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

The Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition focuses on the supply of water and nutrients for plants. We are also interested in how plants affect other environmental factors that influence the production of plant substances. 

Our goals are the efficient use of nutrients, particularly nitrogen in order to reduce the effects of environmental pollution as well as improving humus management to keep the soil fertile. 

Our main goal in research is to maintain plant quality (in viticulture and horticulture), learn about the effects of climate change on different plants and the effects of stressors on plant substances. Our special work field focuses on examining nitrous oxides and other climate relevant gases in viticulture and horticulture. 

In horticulture we also focus on optimizing fertigation (especially in protected cultivation) in the tropics and sub-tropics, plant reaction and nutrient absorption, energy and resources efficiency with different types of greenhouse covers, waste-water reuse and effects on plant secondary metabolism through external factors (lack and/or surplus of nutrients, environmental factors). At the moment we work closely together with partners from Greece, Finland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Thailand, Vietnam, Namibia and Kenya.